Wednesday, September 8, 2010

As we approach the 9th Anniversary of the September 11th attacks on our country, another more distant date comes to mind - September 11th, 1777 - the Battle of the Brandywine in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. The scenic countryside of bucolic Chadds Ford was interrupted 233 years ago on September 11th, 1777 by the clashing of two armies - George Washington's, including the young Marquis de Lafayette, and commander William Howe, then the most experienced and revered General in the British Army.

The largest land battle in North America up until the Civil War ended with a loss for the Colonials, but Washington and Lafayette survived to fight again and finally win at the Battle of Yorktown in October 1781, securing our independence and our liberty for generations to come.

I live just down the Old Baltimore Pike (Route 1 in Southeastern Pennsylvania) from the Brandywine Battlefield and was inspired to write my second book, an historical novel "Lafayette's Gold -The Lost Brandywine Treasure", after taking a tour of Brandywine Battlefiled Park last Summer and finding out that it was about to close due to lack of funding. Please - if you cherish your nations' roots... our history... the Soul of America... support your local historic sites! Go to http://www.lafayettesgold.com/ for more information about the book.

About Me

Gene retired from the investment industry in 2010 after working for 30 years as an energy/petrochemicals analyst and portfolio manager. He works now full-time as an historical mystery writer and lecturer. Gene has published five books. He was born on the Main Line outside Philadelphia. An avid history buff, he started writing novels in 2008. He holds a Master's Degree in Petroleum Geology, an MBA Finance, is a Chartered Financial analyst (CFA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP). Gene is a member of numerous historiocal societies, the American Historical Association, American Friends of Lafayette, Friends of Brandywine Battlefield and is an approved speaker for the Delaware Humanities Forum. He conducts an ongoing lecture series on historical topics and is available for lectures/book signings. Gene and his wife Phyllis live in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania with their three cats Frankie, Francis and Momcat, parakeets Sally and Linus and occasional feline freeloaders Bear, Smoky and Dadcat.